Pest control composition and pest control method

ABSTRACT

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a composition having excellent controlling effects with respect to pests and provides a pest control composition including bacillus strain APM-1 (new strain of  Bacillus,  APM-1) deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 and one or more nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a composition for controlling pests and a method for controlling pests.

BACKGROUND ART

New strain of Bacillus, APM-1 (deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838), has been known as an active ingredient of compositions for controlling pests and disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1. Also, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compounds were known as an active ingredient of compositions for controlling pests and disclosed, for example, in Non-Patent Document 1. There is need for a material which is still more effective for controlling pests.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   Patent Document 1: WO 2003/055303

Non-Patent Document

-   Non-Patent Document 1:Crop Protection HANDBOOK 2014; ISBN     1-892829-26-6

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Damage from pests is a cause of considerable loss of crop production, and there is a need to control such pests more effectively. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a composition having an excellent controlling effect against pests.

Means for Solving the Problems

The present inventors intensively studied to achieve the above object and have found that a composition comprising Bacillus strain APM-1 which has been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 (New strain of Bacillus, APM-1) and one or more nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound has an excellent controlling effect against pests.

Thus, the present invention includes the following [1] to [9].

-   [1] A composition for controlling pests comprising Bacillus strain     APM-1 (New strain of Bacillus, APM-1) deposited under ATCC Accession     No. PTA-4838 and one or more nicotinic acetylcholine receptor     agonist compound. -   [2] The composition according to [1] wherein the nicotinic     acetylcholine receptor agonist compound is selected from the group     consisting of clothianidin, flupyradifurone, imidacloprid,     thiacloprid and thiamethoxam. -   [3] The composition according to [1] or [2] comprising the nicotinic     acetylcholine receptor agonist compound in an amount of 10⁻⁷ to     1.5×10⁷ g per 10¹⁰ cfu of Bacillus strain APM-1. -   [4] A plant seed or a vegetative propagation organ comprising     Bacillus strain APM-1 (New strain of Bacillus, APM-1) deposited     under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 and one or more nicotinic     acetylcholine receptor agonist compound. -   [5] The plant seed or a vegetative propagation organ according to     [4] wherein the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound is     selected from the group consisting of clothianidin, flupyradifurone,     imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam. -   [6] The plant seed or vegetative propagation organ according to [4]     or [5] comprising 10⁴ to 10¹⁴ cfu of Bacillus strain APM-1 and 0.001     to 15 g of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound,     per 1 kg of the seed or vegetative propagation organ. -   [7] A method for controlling pests, comprising a step of applying     Bacillus strain APM-1 (New strain of Bacillus, APM-1) deposited     under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 and one or more nicotinic     acetylcholine receptor agonist compound to a plant or a plant     cultivation site. -   [8] The method for controlling pests according to [7] wherein the     plant is a genetically modified plant. -   [9] A method for controlling pests, comprising a step of applying     Bacillus strain APM-1 (New strain of Bacillus, APM-1) deposited     under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 and one or more nicotinic     acetylcholine receptor agonist compound to pests or a place where     pests are liable to inhabit.

EFFECT OF INVENTION

The present invention provides an excellent composition for protecting seeds or vegetative propagation organs and plants grown therefrom from pests.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The composition for controlling pests of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “the present composition”) contains Bacillus strain APM-1 (New strain of Bacillus, APM-1) deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 (hereinafter referred to as “the present bacterial strain”) and one or more nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound (hereinafter referred to as “the present compound”).

The present bacterial strain has been disclosed in WO 2003/055303 and deposited under the name “New strain of Bacillus, APM-1” under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 at ATCC (American Type Culture Collection). WO 2003/055303 describes that the strain is most similar to Bucillus amyloliquefaciens. The present bacterial strain is available from ATCC and can be cultured by a known procedure. The culture may be used as it is or may be separated and concentrated using a conventional industrial technique, such as, not limited to, membrane separation, centrifugal separation, or filtration separation. The fraction of the present bacterial strain thus obtained may be used directly as it contains certain water in the present composition, or if necessary, a dried product obtained by a dry method, such as freeze-dry or spray drying, may be used as the present bacterial strain.

In the present composition for controlling pests, the present compound to be used in combination with the present bacterial strain is not limited, so long as it has an has agonistic effect on nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, but includes compounds having agonistic effect on nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, as recited on page 7 of Mode of Action Classification Brochure Fourth Edition-December 2014, issued by The Insecticide Resistance Action Committee, such as clothianidin, flupyradifurone, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam.

Clothianidin is a known compound and has been described, e.g., on page 191 in “Crop Protection HANDBOOK 2014; ISBN 1-892829-26-6”. Clothianidin can be obtained from a commercially available formulation or produced by a known method.

Flupyradifurone is a known compound and has been described, e.g., on page 318 in “Crop Protection HANDBOOK 2014; ISBN 1-892829-26-6”. Flupyradifurone can be obtained by producing by a known method.

Imidacloprid is a known compound and has been described, e.g., on page 358 in “Crop Protection HANDBOOK 2014; ISBN 1-892829-26-6”. Imidacloprid can be obtained from a commercially available formulation or produced by a known method.

Thiacloprid is a known compound and has been described, e.g., on page 568 in “Crop Protection HANDBOOK 2014; ISBN 1-892829-26-6”. Thiacloprid can be obtained from a commercially available formulation or produced by a known method.

Thiamethoxam is a known compound and has been described, e.g., on page 568 in “Crop Protection HANDBOOK 2014; ISBN 1-892829-26-6”. Thiamethoxam can be obtained from a commercially available formulation or produced by a known method.

The present composition can be prepared typically by mixing the present bacterial strain and the present compound, respectively, with a solid carrier or a liquid carrier, with addition of a surfactant or other auxiliary agents for formulation if necessary, followed by combining the present bacterial strain formulation and the compound formulation thus obtained. Alternatively, the present composition can be prepared by mixing the present bacterial strain with the present compound in advance, adding a solid carrier or a liquid carrier, with addition of a surfactant or other auxiliary agents for formulation if necessary, followed by formulating into a single formulation.

Examples of the solid carrier include mineral fine powders, such as kaolin clay, pyrophyllite clay, bentonite, montmorillonite, diatomaceous earth, synthetic hydrous silicon oxide, acidic clay, talc, clay, ceramic, quartz, sericite, vermiculite, pearlite, Oya stone, anthracite, limestone, coalite, and zeolite, inorganic compounds, such as sodium chloride, carbonate, sulfate, nitrate, and urea, organic fine powders, such as rice hulls, bran, wheat flour, and peat moss. Examples of the liquid carrier include water, vegetable oil, animal oil, and mineral oil. Examples of the auxiliary substance for formulation include anti-freezing agents, such as ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, and thickening agents, such as carboxymethyl cellulose, and xanthan gum.

The present composition may contain the present bacterial strain in an effective amount, for example, at least 10⁴ cfu/g, typically 10⁴ to 10¹³ cfu/g, and preferably 10⁷ to 10¹² cfu/g of the present composition.

The present composition may contain the present compound in an effective amount, for example, typically 0.0001 to 0.90 g, preferably 0. 001 to 0.80 g, per 1 g of the present composition.

The present composition typically contains 10⁻⁷ to 1.5×10⁷ g, preferably 10⁻⁵ to 10⁵ g, more preferably 10⁻⁴ to 10² g of the present compound per 10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain.

The term “effective amount” as used herein refers to an amount of the present bacterial strain and the present compound that is able to exert the controlling effect against pests.

The method of the invention for controlling pests (hereinafter referred to as “the present controlling method”) comprises a step of applying the present bacterial strain and one or more of the present compounds to a plant or a plant cultivation site.

Also, in the present controlling method, the present composition may be applied to pests or a place where pests are liable to inhabit.

In the present controlling method, the present bacterial strain and the present compound to be used are typically those which have been formulated and may be applied as separate formulations or as a present composition. The separate formulations may be applied simultaneously or independently.

In the present controlling method, the present bacterial strain and the present compound are applied in an effective amount.

In the present invention, examples of the cultivation site of the plant or the place where pests are liable to inhabit include paddy field, cultivated field, tea field, fruit orchard, non-agricultural land, seedling tray and nursery box, nursery soil and nursery mat, water culture medium in hydroponic farm, and the like. In a cultivation site of plant or a place where pests are liable to inhabit, pests may have already inhabited or not yet inhabited.

In the present controlling method, examples of the method for treating the present bacterial strain and the present compound include foliage treatment, soil treatment, root treatment, seed treatment and vegetative propagation organ treatment.

Examples of the foliage treatment include treatment of the surface of the cultivated plant with spraying onto the foliage and stem.

Examples of the root treatment include immersing whole plant or a root of the plant in a solution containing the present bacterial strain and the present compound, as well as attaching a solid preparation containing the present bacterial strain, the present compound and a solid carrier to a root of the plant.

Examples of the soil treatment include soil broadcast, soil incorporation and chemical irrigation to soil.

Examples of the seed treatment and vegetative propagation organ treatment include applying seed treatment or vegetative propagation treatment using the present composition, specifically, such as spray treatment wherein a suspension of the present composition is sprayed onto the surface of the seed or the vegetative propagation organ, wet powder coating treatment wherein the present composition in a form of wettable powder is coated onto moist seed or vegetative propagation organ, smearing treatment wherein a liquid of the present composition prepared from wettable powder, emulsifiable concentrate or flowable formulation of the present composition, with addition of water if necessary, is applied onto seed or vegetative propagation organ, immersion treatment wherein seeds or vegetative propagation organs are immersed in a liquid containing the present composition for a certain period of time, and film coating treatment and pellet coating treatment of seeds with the present composition.

In the present invention, the simply described “plant” encompasses in its meaning “a seed of the plant” and “a vegetative propagation organ of the plant”.

The term “vegetative propagation organ” as used herein means a part of root, stem, leaf or the like of the plant having the ability to grow when it is separated from the body and placed on soil, such as flower bulb, potato tuberous root, stem tuber, scaly bulb, corm, rhizophore, and strawberry runner.

In the present controlling method, the amount of the present bacterial strain and the present compound in the treatment varies depending on the kind of plant to be treated, the kind of pest to be targeted, and the occurrence frequency, the formulation form, the treatment period, the treatment method, the place to be treated, the weather condition or the like, and when a stem and a leaf of the plant or a soil where the plant grows is treated, the amount of the present bacterial strain for the treatment is usually 10⁵ to 10¹⁹ cfu, preferably 10⁷ to 10¹⁷ cfu, per 1 ha, and the amount of the present compound for the treatment is usually 10 to 5000 g, preferably 20 to 2000 g, per 1 ha. The composition in a form of wettable powder, water dispersible granules or the like may be used by diluting with water so that the concentration of the present bacterial strain is usually 10³ to 10¹² cfu/L and that the concentration of the present compound is usually 0.0005 to 1% by weight. The composition in a form of dustable powder or granules may be used as it is.

In the seed treatment or vegetative propagation organ treatment, the amount of the present bacterial strain is usually 10⁴ to 10¹⁴ cfu, preferably 10⁶ to 10¹³ cfu per 1 kg of the seed or vegetative propagation organ, and the amount of the present compound is usually 0.001 to 15 g, preferably 0.01 to 10 g, per 1 kg of the seed or vegetative propagation organ.

The weight of the seed or vegetative propagation organ means the weight thereof when treating with the present bacterial strain and the present compound or other agricultural chemicals before seeding or burying of the same.

By treating the seed or vegetative propagation organ as described above, a seed or vegetative propagation organ comprising the present bacterial strain and one or more compounds of the invention can be obtained. An adjuvant may be admixed if necessary during the seed treatment or vegetative propagation organs treatment.

Examples of the plant to which the present invention is applicable include the followings.

Agricultural crops: cereal crops, such as corn, sorghum, wheat as representing wheat, barley, rye, and oat, rice, millet; pseudocereals, such as buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa; pulses, such as soybean, peanut; oilseed rape; sugar beet; cotton; sunflower; tobacco; sugar cane; hop.

Vegetables: solanaceous crops (eggplant, tomato, potato, chili pepper, green pepper, etc.), cucurbitaceae crops (cucumber, pumpkin, zucchini, watermelon, melon, orienta melon, etc.), cruciferous vegetables (radish, turnip, horseradish, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, mustard, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.), asteraceae vegetables (burdock, garland chrysanthemum, artichoke, lettuce, etc.), liliaceae vegetables (green onion, onion, garlic, asparagus, etc.), umbelliferae vegetables (carrot, parsley, celery, parsnip, etc.), chenopodiaceae vegetables (spinach, chard, etc.), labiatae vegetables (perilla, mint, basil, etc.), leguminous crops (pea, kidney bean, adzuki bean, broad bean, chickpea, etc.), strawberry, sweet potato, yam, taro, konjac, ginger, okra.

Fruit trees: pome fruits (apple, Japanese pear, common pear, Chinese quince, quince, etc.), stone fruits (peach, plum, nectarine, Japanese plum, cherry, apricot, prune, etc.), citrus fruits (Satsuma mandarin, orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, etc.), nuts (chestnut, walnut, hazel nut, almond, pistachio, cashew nut, macadamia nut, etc.), berries (blueberry, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, etc.), grape, Japanese persimmon, olive, loquat, banana, coffee, date palm, coconut palm, oil palm.

Trees other than fruit trees: tea, mulberry, flowering trees (azalea, camellia, hydrangea, sasanqua, Japanese star anise, cherry, tulip tree, crape myrtle, orange osmanthus, etc.), street trees (ash tree, birch, dogwood, eucalyptus, ginkgo, lilac, maple tree, oak, poplar, cercis, Chinese sweet gum, plane tree, zelkova, Japanese arborvitae, fir tree, Japanese hemlock, needle juniper, pine, spruce, yew, elm, horse chestnut, etc.), coral tree, podocarpus, cedar, Japanese cypress, croton, Japanese spindle tree, Japanese photinia.

Grasses: zoysia (zoysiagrass, Zoysia matrella, etc.), bermuda grasses (Cynodon dactylon, etc.), bent grasses (Agrostis alba, creeping bent grass, hiland bent, etc.), blueglasses (meadow grass, bird grass, etc.), fescue (tall fescue, chewings fescue, creeping red fescue, etc.), ryegrasses (darnel, rye grass, etc.), orchard grass, timothy grass.

Others: flowers (rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, prairie gentian, gypsophila, gerbera, marigold, salvia, petunia, verbena, tulip, aster, gentian, lily, pansy, cyclamen, orchid, convallaria, lavender, stock, ornamental cabbage, primula, poinsettia, gladiolus, cattleya, daisy, cymbidium, begonia, etc.), bio-fuel plants (Jatropha, safflower, camelina, switchgrass, Miscanthus, reed canary grass, giant reed, kenaf, cassava, willow, etc.), ornamental plants.

The present invention is preferably applied to cereal crops or millets. The present invention is more preferably applied to corn, wheat, sorghum, and soybean.

In the present invention, the variety of plant is not limited so long as it is commonly cultivated. The plants of such varieties include plants which have been conferred with one or more useful trait by a classical breeding technique or a genetic engineering technique (genetically modified plant) as well as stack varieties obtained by crossing such genetically modified plants.

Such useful characters include tolerance to herbicide, pest resistance, disease resistance, stress tolerance, and improved quality of crops such as modified fatty acid residue composition of oils and fats.

Examples of the genetically modified plant include those listed in the genetically modified crop registration database (GM APPROVAL DATABASE) in the electronic information site (http://www.isaaa.org/) of the INTERNATIONAL SERVICE for the ACQUISITION of AGRI-BIOTECH APPLICATIONS (ISAAA). More specifically, the plant may be a plant which has been conferred with an environmental stress tolerance, a disease resistance, a herbicide tolerance, a pest resistance or the like, or a plant wherein its trait has been modified with respect to growth and yield, quality of product, sterility or the like, by genetic recombination technology.

Examples of the plant conferred with a herbicide tolerance by gene recombination technology include genetically modified plants conferred with a tolerance to protoporphyrinogen oxidase (herein after referred to as PPO) herbicides such as flumioxazin; 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvic acid dioxygenase (hereinafter abbreviated as HPPD) inhibitors such as isoxaflutole, mesotrione; acetolactate synthase (hereinafter referred to as ALS) inhibitors such as imazethapyr, thifensulfuron methyl; 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (hereinafter referred to as EPSP) inhibitors such as glyphosate; glutamine synthetase inhibitors such as glufosinate; auxin herbicides such as 2,4-D, dicamba; and herbicides such as bromoxynil.

Examples of the plant conferred with a herbicide tolerance by gene recombination technology include glyhosate-tolerant genetically modified plants which have been introduced with one or more gene selected from glyphosate tolerant EPS PS gene (CP4 epsps) from Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain CP4; glyphosate metabolizing enzyme gene (gat4601, gat6421) which is a gene of glyphosate metabolizing enzyme (glyphosate N-acetyl transferase) from Bacillus (Bacillus licheniformis) modified by gene shuffling to enhance the metabolic activity; glyphosate metabolizing enzyme (glyphosate oxidase gene, goxv247) from Ochrobactrum (Ochrobactrum anthropi strain LBAA), or EPSPS gene having glyphosate-tolerant mutation (mepsps, 2mepsps) from corn. There are glyphosate-tolerant genetically modified varieties with respect to plants such as corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), canola (Brassica napus, Brassica rapa), alfalfa (Medicagosativa), potato (Solanum tuberrosum L), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and creeping bent grass (Agrostis stolonifera).

Some glyphosate-tolerant genetically modified plants are commercially available. For example, a genetically modified plant expressing glyphosate-tolerant EPSPS from Agrobacterium has been marketed under the trade name such as Roundup Ready®, a genetically modified plant expressing glyphosate metabolizing enzyme from Bacillus with enhanced metabolic activity by gene shuffling has been marketed under the trade name such as Optimum® GAT®, Optimum® Gly canola, and a genetically modified plant expressing EPSPS gene having glyphosate-tolerant mutation has been marketed under the trade name GlyTol®.

Examples of plants conferred with herbicide-tolerance by gene recombination technology include glufosinate-tolerant genetically modified plants which have been introduced with phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (PAT) gene (bar) of the glufosinate metabolizing enzyme from Streptomyces (Streptomyces hygroscopicus), phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase gene (pat) of the glufosinate metabolizing enzyme from Streptomyces (Streptomyces viridochromogenes), a synthesized pat gene, or the like. There are glufosinate-tolerant genetically modified varieties with respect to plants such as corn, soybean, cotton, canola, rice (Oryza sativa L.), sugar beet, and cichory (Cichori intybus).

Some glufosinate-tolerant genetically modified plants are commercially available. A genetically modified plant expressing glufosinate metabolizing enzyme (bar, pat) from Streptomyces has been marked under a trade name including LibertyLink®.

Examples of herbicide-tolerant genetically modified plants include genetically modified plants which have been introduced with the gene (bxn) of nitrilase, which is a bromoxynil-metabolizing enzyme from Klebsiella (Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. Ozaenae). Bromoxynil-tolerant genetically modified varieties have been produced for plants such as canola, cotton, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and have been marked under a trade name including Navigator® canola, or BXN®.

Examples of herbicide-tolerant genetically modified plants include genetically modified carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) which has been introduced with ALS herbicide-tolerant ALS gene (SurB, S4-HrA) from tobacco as a selectable marker. Also, a genetically modified larvae (Linum usitatissumum L.) which has been introduced with ALS herbicide-tolerant ALS gene from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) has been developed under the trade name CDC Triffid Flax. Also, a genetically modified soybean which has been introduced with ALS herbicide-tolerant ALS gene (csr1-2) from Arabidopsis has been developed under the trade name Cultivance®. Furthermore, there are sulfonylurea/imidazolinone herbicide-tolerant genetically modified corn which has been introduced with ALS herbicide-tolerant ALS gene (zm-hra) from corn, and sulfonylurea herbicide-tolerant genetically modified soybean which has been introduced with ALS herbicide-tolerant ALS gene (gm-hra) from soybean.

Examples of plants conferred with herbicide-tolerance by gene recombination technology include isoxaflutole-tolerant genetically modified soybean which has been introduced with HPPD herbicide-tolerant HPPD gene (hppdPFW 336) from Pseudomonas (Pseudomonas fluorescens strain A32) and mesotrione-tolerant genetically modified soybean which has been introduced with HPPD gene (avhppd-03) from oats (Avena sativa).

Examples of plants conferred with herbicide-tolerance by gene recombination technology include 2,4-D-tolerant genetically modified corns, genetically modified soybeans, genetically modified cottons which have been introduced with gene (aad-1) of 2,4-D metabolizing enzyme aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase from Sphingobium (Sphingobium herbicidovorans) or with gene (aad-12) of 2,4-D metabolizing enzyme aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase from Delftia (Delftia acidovorans). Some of them are developed under the trade names such as Enlist® Maize, Enlist® Soybean. Also, there are dicamba-tolerant genetically modified soybeans and cottons which have been introduced with gene (dmo) of dicamba monooxygenase, which is dicamba metabolizing enzyme from Stenotrophomonas (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain DI-6).

Examples of genetically modified plant tolerant to two or more herbicides include genetically modified cotton and genetically modified corn, which are tolerant to both glyphosate and glufosinate, and marketed under the trade name such as GlyTol® LibertyLink®, Roundup Ready® LibertyLink® Maize. Also, there are a genetically modified soybean tolerant to both glufosinate and 2,4-D and developed under the trade name Enlist® Soybean, and a genetically modified cotton tolerant to both glufosinate and 2,4-D. A genetically modified soybean tolerant to both glyphosate and dicamba has been developed under the trade name Genuity®) Roundup Ready® 2 Xtend®. Genetically modified corn and soybean resistant to both glyphosate and ALS inhibitors have been developed under the trade name Optimum GAT®. In addition, a genetically modified cotton tolerant to both glufosinate and dicamba, a genetically modified corn tolerant to both glyphosate and 2,4-D, a genetically modified soybean tolerant to both glyphosate and HPPD herbicide have also been developed. Furthermore, a genetically modified soybean tolerant to three herbicides glyphosate, glufosinate and 2,4-D has been developed.

Examples of the plant conferred with a pest resistance by gene recombination technology include plants conferred with resistance to lepidopteran insects, coccinella insects, multipter insects, nematodes and the like.

Examples of the plant conferred with a pest resistance to lepidopteran insects by genetic recombination technology include genetically modified plants such as soybean, cotton, rice, poplar (Populus sp.), and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), and eggplant (Solanum melongena), which have been introduced with a gene encoding delta-endotoxin, which is an insecticidal protein derived from a soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria (hereinafter referred to as Bt bacteria). Examples of the delta-endotoxin that confers a pest resistance to lepidopteran insects include Cry1A, Cry1Ab, modified Cry1Ab (truncated Cry1Ab), Cry1Ac, Cry1Ab-Ac (hybrid protein of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac), Cry1C, Cry1F, Cry1Fa2 (modified cry1F), moCry1F (modified Cry1F), Cry1A. 105 (hybrid protein of Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac and Cry1F), Cry2Ab2, Cry2Ae, Cry9C, Vip3A, Vip3Aa20, and the like.

Examples of the plant conferred with a pest resistance to coccinella insects by genetic recombination technology include genetically modified plants such as corn, potato, which have been introduced with a gene encoding delta-endotoxin, which is an insecticidal protein derived from a soil bacterium Bt bacteria. Examples of the delta-endotoxin that confers a pest resistance to coccinella insects include Cry3A, mCry3A (modified Cry3A), Cry3Bb1, Cry34Ab1, and Cry35Ab1.

Examples of the plant conferred with a pest resistance to multipter insects by genetic recombination technology include genetically modified corn, which has been introduced with a synthetic gene encoding a hybrid protein eCry3. 1Ab, which is a hybrid protein of Cry3A and Cry1Ab derived from soil bacteria Bt bacteria, a genetically modified cotton, which has been introduced with a gene encoding trypsin inhibitor CpTI from black-eyed pea (Vigna unguiculata), a genetically modified poplar, which has been introduced with a gene encoding API, which is a protease inhibitor protein A from arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia).

Examples of the insecticidal protein that confers a pest resistance to the plants include hybrid proteins, truncated proteins, and modified proteins of the insecticidal proteins described above. The hybrid proteins are produced by combining different domains of multiple insecticidal proteins using a common recombination technology, and Cry1Ab-Ac and Cry1A.105 are known.

Examples of the truncated proteins include Cry1Ab lacking the amino acid sequence partially. Examples of the modified proteins include proteins in which one or more amino acids of natural delta-endotoxin have been substituted, such as Cry1Fa2, moCry1F, mCry3A.

Examples of other insecticidal proteins that confer insect resistance to plants by genetic recombination technology include insecticidal proteins from Bacillus cereus or Bacillus popilliae, the insecticidal proteins Vip 1, Vip 2, Vip 3 of Bt bacteria, insecticidal proteins from nematode, toxin produced by an animal such as scorpotoxin, spider toxin, bee venom or insect-specific neurotoxin, toxins of filamentous fungi, plant lectin, agglutinin, protease inhibitor such as trypsin inhibitor, serine protease inhibitor, patatin, cystatin, papain inhibitor, ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) such as ricin, corn-RIP, abrin, rufin, saporin, bryodin, steroid metabolizing enzymes such as 3-hydroxysteroid oxidase, ecdysteroid-UDP-glucosyltransferase, cholesterol oxidase, ecdysone inhibitor, HMG-CoA reductase, ion channel inhibitors such as sodium channel inhibitor, calcium channel inhibitor, juvenile hormone esterase, diuretic hormone receptor, stilbene synthase, bibenzyl synthase, chitinase, glucanase, and the like.

Genetically modified plants conferred with a pest resistance by introducing one or more insecticidal protein gene are known, and some of such genetically modified plants are commercially available.

Examples of commercially available genetically modified cotton conferred with a pest resistance include Bollgard® cotton expressing the insecticidal protein Cry1Ac of Bt bacteria, Bollgard II® cotton expressing the insecticidal proteins Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab of Bt bacteria, Bollgard III® expressing the insecticidal proteins Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab, Vip3A of Bt bacteria, VIPCOT® expressing the insecticidal proteins Vip3A and Cry1Ac of Bt bacteria, WideStrike® expressing the insecticidal proteins Cry1Ac, Cry1F of Bt bacterium.

Examples of commercially available genetically modified corn conferred with a pest resistance include YieldGard® Rootworm RW expressing the insecticidal protein Cry3Bb1 of Bt bacteria, YieldGard Plus® expressing the insecticidal proteins Cry1Ab and Cry3Bb1 of Bt bacteria, YieldGard® VT Pro® expressing the insecticidal proteins Cry1A. 105 and Cry2Ab2 of Bt bacteria. Agrisure® RW expressing the insecticidal protein mCry3A of Bt bacteria, Agrisure® Viptera expressing the insecticidal protein Vip3Aa20 of Bt bacteria, Agrisure® Duracade® expressing the insecticidal protein eCry3.1Ab of Bt bacteria are also commercially available.

Examples of commercially available genetically modified potato conferred with a pest resistance include Atlantic NewLeaf® potato, NewLeaf® Russet Burbank potato, and the like, which express the insecticidal protein Cry3A of Bt bacteria.

Examples of genetically modified plants conferred with resistance to pests include kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), papaya (Carica papaya), plum (Prunus domestical), potato, squash (Cucurbita pepo), sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum), tomato, and the like, which have been conferred with a resistance to plant viral diseases. Specific examples of genetically modified plants conferred with a resistance to plant viral diseases include a genetically modified kidney bean which has been introduced with a gene that produces double-stranded RNA of a replication protein of bean golden mosaic virus, a genetically modified papaya which has been introduced with a coat protein gene of papaya ringspot virus, a genetically modified potato which has been introduced with a coat protein gene of potato virus Y or replication enzyme domain gene of potato leaf roll virus, a genetically modified squash which has been introduced with a coat protein gene of Cucumber mosaic virus, with a coat protein gene of Watermelon mosaic virus, or with a coat protein gene of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, a genetically modified sweet pepper and transgenic tomato which has been introduced with a coat protein gene of Cucumber mosaic virus, and the like.

A genetically modified potato conferred with a resistance to plant viral diseases is commercially available under a trade name including NewLeaf®.

Examples of the plant conferred with a resistance to pest also include plants that have been conferred with an ability to produce a selective anti-pathogenic substance using genetic recombination technology. PR proteins are known as an anti-pathogenic substance (PRPs, EP392225). Such anti-pathogenic substance and genetically modified plants that produce the same are described in EP 392225, WO 199533818, EP 353191 and the like. Examples of the anti-pathogenic substance include ion channel inhibitors such as sodium channel inhibitors, calcium channel inhibitors (KP1, KP4, KP6 toxin produced by viruses are known), anti-pathogenic substances produced by microorganisms such as stilbene synthase, bibenzyl synthase, chitinase, glucanase, peptide antibiotics, antibiotics having heterocycles, protein factors involved in pest resistance, which is referred to as pest resistance genes and described in WO 2003000906.

Examples of genetically modified plant wherein the quality of product has been modified includes genetically modified plants having a modification in lignin production, a modification in oils or fatty acid components, production of phytic acid degrading enzymes, a modification in flower color, a modification in alpha-amylase activity, a modification in amino acids, a modification in starch or carbohydrate components, inhibition of acrylamide production, reduction of black spots due to mechanical damage, anti-allergy, reduction of nicotine production, or retardation of aging or grain-filling.

There is a genetically modified alfalfa wherein the lignin content has been lowered by RNA interference with a gene that generates double-stranded RNA of S-adenosyl-L-methionine: trans-caffeoyl CoA 3-methyltransferase (ccomt) gene of alfalfa related to lignin production.

A genetically modified canola wherein the triacylglyceride content, including lauric acid, has been increased by introducing a gene involved in fatty acid synthesis, 12:0 ACP thioesterase gene of laurier (Umbellularia californica), has been developed under the trade name Laurical® Canola.

A genetically modified canola wherein the degradation of endogenous phytic acid has been enhanced by introducing a gene (phyA) of 3-phytase, which is a degrading enzyme of phytic acid of plants from Aspergillus niger, has been developed under the trade name Phytaseed® Canola. Also, a genetically modified corn wherein the degradation of endogenous phytic acid has been enhanced by introducing 3-phytase gene (phyA) of Aspergillus niger has been developed.

A genetically modified carnation wherein the flower color has been controlled to blue by introducing a gene of dihydroflavonol-4-reductase, which is an enzyme that produces blue pigment delphinidin and its derivative of petunia (Petunia hybrida), and a flavonoid-3′, 5′-hydroxylase gene from petunia, pansy (Viola wittrockiana), salvia (Salvia splendens) or carnation is known. Genetically modified carnations with flower color controlled to blue have been developed under the trade name such as Moonldust®, Moonshadow®, Moonshade®, Moonlite®, Moonaqua®, Moonvista®, Moonique®, Moonpearl®, Moonberry Registered trademark), and Moonvelvet®. Also, genetically modified roses with flower color controlled to blue by introducing a gene of anthocyanin-5-acyltransferase, which is an enzyme that produces blue pigment delphinidin and its derivative, from Torenia (Torenia sp.), and a flavonoid-3′,5′-hydroxylase gene from pansy have been developed.

A genetically modified corn wherein the production of bioethanol has been increased by introducing a gene (Amy797E) of heat-resistant alpha-amylase relating to starch degradation of Thermococcales sp. have been developed under the trade name Enogen®.

A genetically modified corn wherein the production of lysine has been increased by introducing a gene (cordapA) of dihydrodipicolinate synthase relating to the production of amino acid lysine of Corynebacterium glutamicum has been developed under the trade name including Mavera®.

A genetically modified melon and a genetically modified tomato wherein the shelf life has been improved by introducing a gene (sam-K) of S-adenosylmethionine hydrolase relating to ethylene production by plant hormones from Escherichia coli bacteriophage T3 has been developed. Also, genetically modified tomatoes with improved shelf life by introducing a gene that lacks a part of the ACC synthase gene, which is involved in the ethylene production by plant hormones, from tomato, an ACC deaminase gene from Pseudomonas (Pseudomonas chlororaphis) that degrades the ethylene precursor ACC, a gene that generates double-stranded RNA of polygalacturonase genes which degrades cell wall pectin, or ACC oxidase genes of tomato related to the production of ethylene have been developed. A genetically modified tomato with improved shelf life by introducing a gene that produces double-stranded RNA of polygalacturonase genes of tomato has been developed under the trade name FLAVR SAVR®.

A genetically modified potato, wherein the possibility of decomposition of starch, formation of black spots due to mechanical damage and production of a carcinogen (acrylamide) from heating are lowered by introducing a gene that generates double-stranded RNA of a transcription factor promoting degradation of starch derived from potato, and a gene that generates double-stranded RNA of polyphenol oxidase gene and a gene that generates double-stranded RNA of genes involved in asparagine production from potato, has been developed under a trade mark including Innate®. Also, a genetically modified potato wherein the amylose content is lowered by introducing an antisense gene of starch synthase from potato has been developed under the trade name Amflora®.

A genetically modified rice having alleviation effect on pollinosis with immune tolerance by introducing a gene (7crp) of altered antigenic protein of cedar pollen has been developed.

A genetically modified soybean wherein the oleic acid content is increased by introducing a partial gene (gm-fad2-1) of ω-6 desaturase, which is a fatty acid desaturase enzyme, of soybean to inhibit the gene expression thereof has been developed under the trade name Plenish® or Tresis®. Also, a genetically modified soybean wherein the saturated fatty acid content is lowered by introducing a gene (fatb1-A) that generates a double-stranded RNA of acyl-acyl carrier protein-thioesterase and a gene (fad2-1A) that generates a double-stranded RNA of δ-12 desaturase has been developed under the trade name Vistive Gold®. Also, a genetically modified soybean wherein the ω3 fatty acid content is enhanced by introducing a δ-6 desaturase gene (Pj.D6D) of primrose and a δ-12 desaturase gene (Nc.Fad3) of Neurospora crassa has been developed.

A genetically modified tobacco wherein the nicotine content is lowered by introducing an antisense gene of quinolinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase (NtQPT1) of tobacco has been developed.

A genetically modified rice, Golden rice, introduced with a phytoene synthase gene (psy) of trumpet narcissus (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) and a carotene desaturase gene (crtl) of soil bacteria that synthesizes carotenoids (Erwinia uredovora), which allow endosperm-specific expression to produce β-carotene in endosperm tissue, whereby a rice containing vitamin A is enabled to be harvested, has been developed.

Examples of the plants in which the fertile trait has been modified by a genetic recombination technique include genetically modified plants conferred with male sterility and fertility restoration. There are genetically modified corn and chicory conferred with male sterility by introducing anther tapetum cell expressing a ribonuclease gene (barnase) of Bacillus (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens). There is also a genetically modified corn conferred with male sterility by introducing a DNA adenine methyltransferase gene (dam) of Escherichia coli. Furthermore, there is a genetically modified corn wherein the sterility has been controlled by introducing alpha-amylase gene (zm-aa1) of corn that confers male sterility and ms45 protein gene (ms45) of corn that confers fertility restoration.

There is a genetically modified canola conferred with a fertility restoring function by introducing anther tapetum cells expressing a ribonuclease inhibitory protein gene (barstar) of Bacillus. In addition, there is a genetically modified canola wherein the sterility has been controlled by introducing a ribonuclease gene (barnase) of Bacillus that confers a male sterility and a ribonuclease inhibitory protein gene (barstar) of Bacillus that confers a fertility restoration.

Examples of the plants conferred with tolerance to environmental stress by a genetic recombination technique include genetically modified plants conferred with tolerance to dryness. A dry tolerant corn which has been introduced with a cold shock protein gene (cspB) of Bacillus subtilis has been developed under the trade name Genuity® DroughtGard®. Also, dry tolerant sugar cane which has been introduced with choline dehydrogenase gene (RmBetA) of alfalfa rhizobium (Rhizobium meliloti) or E. coli (Esherichia coli) has been developed.

Examples of the plants wherein a trait related to growth and yield has been modified by genetic recombination technology include genetically modified plants having enhanced growth ability. For example, a genetically modified soybean which has been introduced with a gene of Arabidopsis encoding a transcription factor that controls circadian rhythm (bbx32) has been developed.

The plant according to the present invention can be a plant which has been modified using other techniques than genetic recombination technology. More specifically, it may be a plant which has been conferred with tolerance to environmental stress, disease resistance, tolerance to herbicide, insect resistance, or the like, by classical breeding technique, genetic marker breeding technique, genome editing technique, or the like.

Examples of the plant wherein a tolerance to herbicide has been conferred by classical breeding technique or genetic marker breeding technique include corn, rice, wheat, sunflower (Helianthus annuus), canola, and lentil beans (Lens culinaris), which are resistant to imidazolinone type ALS inhibiting herbicides, such as imazethapyr, and are marketed under the trade name Clearfield®. Also, there is STS soybean, which is a soybean tolerant to sulfonylurea-based herbicide, as an example of plants which has been conferred with a resistance to sulfonyl-based ALS-inhibiting herbicides such as thifensulfuron methyl by genetic marker breeding technique. Also, there is SR corn, which is resistant to sethoxydim, as an example of plants which has been conferred with a resistance to acetyl CoA carboxylase inhibitor, such as trione oxime type herbicide, aryloxyphenoxypropionic acid type herbicide, by genetic marker breeding technique.

Examples of the plants conferred with pest resistance by classic or genetic marker breeding technique include a soybean having Rag 1 (Resistance Aphid Gene 1) gene, which is an aphid resistant gene. Examples of the plants conferred with resistance to nematodes by the classical breeding technique include a soybean conferred with a resistance to Cysto nematode, and a cotton conferred with a resistance to Root Knot nematode.

Examples of the plants which has been conferred with a resistance to pest by classic or genetic marker breeding technique include a corn which has been conferred with a resistant to anthracnose stalk rot, a corn which has been conferred with a resistant to Gray leaf spot, a corn which has been conferred with a resistant to Goss's wilt, a corn which has been conferred with a resistant to Fusarium stalk rot, a soybean which has been conferred with a resistant to Asian soybean rust, a pepper which has been conferred with a resistant to Phytophthora, a lettuce which has been conferred with a resistant to powdery mildew, a tomato which has been conferred with a resistant to Bacterial wilt, a tomato which has been conferred with a resistant to Gemini virus, and a lettuce which has been conferred with a resistant to downy mildew.

As an example of the plants which have been conferred with a tolerance to dryness by classic or genetic marker breeding technique, a dry tolerant corn has been developed under the trade name such as Agrisure Artesian®, Optimum AQUA max®.

As an example of the plants conferred with a tolerance to herbicide by genomic editing technique, a canola conferred with a tolerance to sulfonylurea herbicide by rapid breed development technology wherein a mutation to confer tolerance to sulfonylurea herbicide has introduced into ALS gene via chimera oligonucleotides of DNA and RNA, has been developed under the trade name SU Canola®.

The above plants include a variety which has been conferred with two or more traits, such as tolerance to environmental stress, disease resistance, tolerance to herbicide, pest resistance, growth and yield traits, quality of product, and sterility, using a genetic recombination technology as described above, such as a classic breeding technique, a genetic marker breeding, or a genome editing technique, as well as a variety which has been conferred with two or more traits from parents by crossing the parents, which are genetically modified plants having same or different characteristic. Examples of such plant include genetically modified plants conferred with both of tolerance to herbicide and pest resistance.

For example, as for a genetically modified plant conferred with tolerance to glyphosate and pest resistance, genetically modified cottons, such as Roundup Ready® Bollgard® cotton, Roundup Ready® Bollgard II® cotton, Roundup Ready® Flex® Bollgard II® cotton, Bollgard® III×Roundup Ready® Flex®, and VIPCOT® Roundup Ready Flex® Cotton, have been developed. Also, genetically modified soybeans have been developed under the trade name, such as Agrisure® GT/RW, Roundup Ready® YieldGard® maize, Genuity® VT Double Pro®, Genuity® VT Triple Pro®, YieldGard®, YieldGard® CB+RW, YieldGard® VT® Rootworm® RR 2, YieldGard®RW+RR, YieldGard®VT Triple, or YieldGard® Plus with RR. Furthermore, a genetically modified soybean such as Intacta® Roundup Ready® 2 Pro has been developed.

For example, as for genetically modified plants conferred with tolerance to glufosinate and pest resistance, genetically modified cottons have been developed under the trade name, such as Widestrike® Cotton, Twinlink® Cotton, and FiberMax® LibertyLink® Bollgard II®. Also, genetically modified corns have been developed under the trade name, such as Agrisure® CB/LL, Agrisure® CB/LL/RW, Agrisure® Viptera® 2100, Agrisure® Viptera® 3100, Bt Xtra Maize, NaturGard Knockout®, Herculex® RW, Herculex® CB, Herculex® XTRA, Starlink® Maize, and Liberty Link® YieldGard® Maize.

For example, as for genetically modified plants conferred with tolerance to glyphosate and glufosinate and pest resistance, genetically modified cottons have been developed under the trade name, such as Widestrike® Roundup Ready® Cotton, Widestrike® Roundup Ready Flex® Cotton, Widestrike® Cotton, Registered trademark)×Roundup Ready Flex®×VIPCOT® Cotton, and Glytol®×Twinlink®. Also, genetically modified corns have been developed under the trade name, such as Agrisure® GT/CB/LL, Agrisure® 3000GT, Agrisure® 3122, Agrisure® Viptera® 3110, Agrisure® Viptera 3111, Agrisure® Viptera® 3220, Agrisure® Duracade® 5122, Agrisure® Duracade® 5222, Optimum® Intrasect, Optimum® TRIsect, Optimum® Intrasect XTRA , Optimum® Intrasect Xtreme, Genuity® martStax®, Power Core®, Herculex® I RR, Herculex® RW Roundup Ready® 2, and Herculex XTRA® RR.

For example, as for genetically modified plants conferred with tolerance to bromoxynil and pest resistance, a genetically modified cottons has been developed under the trade name, such as BXN® Plus Bollgard® Cotton.

Examples of a variety conferred with two or more traits include genetically modified plants conferred with disease resistance and pest resistance. For example, as for genetically modified plants conferred with resistance to potato virus Y and pest resistance, genetically modified potatoes have been developed under the trade name, such as Hi-Lite NewLeaf® Y Potato, NewLeaf® Y Russet Burbank Potato, and Shepody NewLeaf® Y potato. As for genetically modified plants conferred with resistance to potato leaf roll virus and pest resistance, genetically modified potatoes have been developed under the trade name, such as NewLeaf® Plus Russet Burbank Potato.

Examples of a variety conferred with two or more traits include genetically modified plants conferred with tolerance to herbicide and altered product quality. For example, a genetically modified canola and genetically modified corn, which have been conferred with tolerance to glufosinate and fertile trait have been developed under the trade name, such as InVigor® Canola and InVigor® Maize, respectively.

Examples of a variety conferred with two or more traits include genetically modified plants conferred with a pest resistance and altered product quality. For example, a genetically modified corn conferred with resistance to lepidopterous insects and a trait of enhanced lysine production has been developed under the trade name such as Mavera® YieldGard® Maize.

For other Examples of a variety conferred with two or more traits as mentioned above, genetically modified plants conferred with tolerance to herbicide and a trait altering fertility, genetically modified plants conferred with tolerance to herbicide and tolerance to environmental stress, genetically modified plants conferred with tolerance to herbicide and a trait modifying growth and yield, genetically modified plants conferred with tolerance to herbicide, pest resistance, and a trait modifying product quality, genetically modified plants conferred with tolerance to herbicide, pest resistance, and tolerance to environmental stress, have been developed.

Examples of the pest which can be controlled according to the present invention include the followings.

-   Hemipteran pests: planthoppers such as small brown planthopper     (Laodelphax striatellus); leafhoppers such as Empoasca onukii);     aphids such as cotton aphid (Aphis gossypil), green peach aphid     (Myzus persicae), cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae), potato     aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae), greenhouse potato aphid (Aulacorthum     solani), bird-cherry oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi), pea aphid     (Acyrthosiphon pisum), water lily aphid (Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae),     Aphis naturtii, and Aphis fabae; pentatomids such as southern green     stink bug (Nezara viridula), brown-marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha     mista) and tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris); and whiteflies     such as greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum), sweetpotato     whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), and silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia     argentifolii). -   Lepidoptexan pests: pyralids such as Asian corn borer (Ostrinia     furnacalis), cabbage webworm (Hellula undalis), bluegrass webworm     (Pediasia teterrellus), and European corn borer (Ostrinia     nubilaris); noctuids such as common cutworm (Spodoptera litura),     black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), and oriental armyworm (Mythimna     separata); pierid butterflies such as small white butterfly (Pieris     rapae); tortricids such as sugarcane shoot borer (Tetramoera     schistaceana); ermine moths such as diamondback moth (Plutella     xylostella); and gelechiids such as potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea     operculella). -   Thysanopteran pests: thrips such as western flower thrips     (Frankliniella occidentalis), southern yellow thrips (Thrips parmi),     yellow tea thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis), onion thrips (Thrips     tabaci), flower thrips (Frankliniella intonsa), and tobacco thrips     (Frankliniella fusca). -   Diptoran pests: anthomylid files such as bean seed fly (Delia     platura) and onion fly (Delia antiqua); leafminer flies such as     vegetable leafminer (Liriomyza sativae), American serpentine     leafminer (Liriomyza trifolii), and garden pea leafminer     (Chromatomyia horticola). -   Coleopteran pests: corn rootworms (Diabrotica spp.) such as western     corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) and southern corn     rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi); scarab beetles such     as Cupreus chafer (Anomala cuprea), green chafer beetle (Anomala     albopilosa), soybean beetle (Anomala rufocuprea), and Japanese     beetle (Popillia japonica); weevils such as brown gourd-shaped     weevil (Sphenophorus uniformis); leaf beetles such as cucurbit leaf     beetle (Aulacophora femoralis), Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa     decemlineata) and bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcate); and click     beetles (Agriotes spp.).

The present invention is preferably applicable to Hemipteran pests, Lepidopteran pests, Dipteran pests, and Doleopteran pests, and is particularly preferably applicable to click beetles (Agriotes spp.), corn rootworms (Diabrotica spp.), noctuids, anthomylid flies, and aphids.

EXAMPLES

The invention is described in more detail with reference to the following Preparation Examples, Formulation Examples, Seed Treatment Examples, and Test Examples, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The term “part” means “part by weight” unless otherwise specified. Preparation Examples are provided below.

Preparation Example 1

A culture broth of the present bacterial strain, which has been cultured by a known technique, is centrifuged according to an ordinary method to separate into a supernatant and a precipitate. The supernatant is removed, and the precipitate is washed with sterilized water to obtain a bacterial mass. The obtained bacterial mass is suspended in water, dried on spray drier, and the resultant dried product is pulverized to obtain a powder of the present bacterial strain.

Preparation Example 2

A culture broth of the present bacterial strain, which has been cultured by a known technique, is frozen at −80° C., freeze-dried and pulverized to obtain a powder of the present bacterial strain.

Preparation Example 3

In a 500 mL Erlenmeyer flask with baffle, a platinum loop scraping of the present bacterial strain, which have been cultured in TSA (an agar medium containing 15 g/L of casein peptone, 5 g/L of soybean peptone, 5 g/L of sodium chloride, and 15 g/L of agar), are inoculated to a liquid medium containing 200 mL TSB (a liquid medium containing 17 g/L, of casein peptone, 3 g/L of soybean peptone, 2.5 g/L of glucose, 5 g/L of sodium chloride and 2.5 g/L of K₂HPO₄) and incubated at 30° C. for 12 hours to 24 hours to obtain a liquid culture. Ina 500 mL volume Erlenmeyer flask with baffle, 2 mL of the liquid culture is inoculated to 200 mL of a fresh TSB and cultured with shaking for 24 hours to 48 hours to obtain a liquid culture of the present bacterial strain (hereinafter referred to as Liquid Culture a). The Liquid Culture a is centrifuged according to a conventional manner to separate into a supernatant and precipitate. After removing the supernatant, the precipitate is washed with sterile water and centrifuged. The supernatant is removed to obtain bacterial cells of the present bacterial strain.

Preparation Example 4

The bacterial cells of the present bacterial strain obtained in Preparation Example 3 are suspended in water, dried on spray drier, and pulverized the resulting dried product to obtain a powder of the present bacterial strain.

Preparation Example 5

The Liquid Culture a is obtained as described in Preparation 3. The Liquid Culture a is frozen at −80° C., and freeze-dried and pulverized to obtain a powder of the present bacterial strain.

Preparation Example 6

In a Erlenmeyer flask with baffle, a platinum loop scraping of the present bacterial strain, which have been cultured in TSA (an agar medium containing 15 g/L of casein peptone, 5 g/L of soybean peptone, 5 g/L of sodium chloride, and 15 g/L of agar), were inoculated to a liquid medium containing 200 mL TSB (a liquid medium containing 17 g/L of casein peptone, 3 g/L of soybean peptone, 2.5 g/L of glucose, 5 g/L of sodium chloride and 2.5 g/L of K₂HPO₄) and incubated at 30° C. for 23 hours to obtain a liquid culture. The liquid culture (2%(v/v)) was inoculated to a fresh TSB in a Erlenmeyer flask with baffle and cultured at 30 ° C. with shaking for 43 hours to obtain a liquid culture of the present bacterial strain (hereinafter referred to as Liquid Culture b). The liquid culture b was centrifuged at 1900×g for 10 min to separate into a supernatant and a precipitate. After removing the supernatant, the precipitate was washed with sterilized water and centrifuged at 1900×g for 10 min. The supernatant was removed to obtain 3.8×10¹¹ cfu/g of bacterial cells of the present bacterial strain.

Preparation Example 7

The bacterial cells of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 6 were frozen at ˜80° C. and freeze-dried. The dried product obtained thus by freeze-drying was pulverized using scoopula to obtain 2.8×10¹² cfu/g of a powder of the present bacterial strain.

Formulation Examples are provided below.

Formulation Example 1

To a mixture containing 4 parts of clothianidin, 5 parts of white carbon, 8 parts of sodium lignin sulfonate, 2 parts of sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate are added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 1 or 2, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and diatomaceous earth to 100 parts, followed by mixing and grinding to obtain wettable powder.

Formulation Example 2

To a mixture containing 4.5 parts of flupyradifurone, 5 parts of white carbon, 8 parts of sodium lignin sulfonate, 2 parts of sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate are added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 1 or 2, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and diatomaceous earth to 100 parts, followed by mixing and grinding to obtain wettable powder.

Formulation Example 3

To a mixture containing 7.5 parts of imidacloprid, 5 parts of white carbon, 8 parts of sodium lignin sulfonate, 2 parts of sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate are added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 1 or 2, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and diatomaceous earth to 100 parts, followed by mixing and grinding to obtain wettable powder.

Formulation Example 4

To a mixture containing 5 parts of thiacloprid, 5 parts of white carbon, 8 parts of sodium lignin sulfonate, 2 parts of sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate are added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 1 or 2, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and diatomaceous earth to 100 parts, followed by mixing and grinding to obtain wettable powder.

Formulation Example 5

To a mixture containing 4 parts of thiamethoxam and 5 parts of white carbon, 8 parts of sodium lignin sulfonate, 2 parts of sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate are added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 1 or 2, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and diatomaceous earth to 100 parts, followed by mixing and grinding to obtain wettable powder.

Formulation Example 6

To a mixture containing 20 parts of clothianidin and 30 parts of white carbon containing 30% by weight of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate ammonium salt are added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 1 or 2, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and water to 100 parts, followed by wet-milling to finely milled to obtain a flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 7

To a mixture containing 22.5 parts of flupyradifurone and parts of white carbon containing 30% by weight of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate ammonium salt are added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 1 or 2, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and water to 100 parts, followed by wet-milling to finely milled to obtain a flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 8

To a mixture containing 37.5 parts of imidacloprid and parts of white carbon containing 30% by weight of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate ammonium salt are added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 1 or 2, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and water to 100 parts, followed by wet-milling to finely milled to obtain a flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 9

To a mixture containing 25 parts of thiacloprid and 30 parts of white carbon containing 30% by weight of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate ammonium salt are added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 1 or 2, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and water to 100 parts are added and finely milled by wet-milling to obtain a flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 10

To a mixture containing 20 parts of thiamethoxam and 30 parts of white carbon containing 30% by weight of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate ammonium salt are added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 1 or 2, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and water to 100 parts, followed by wet-milling to finely milled to obtain a flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 11

To a mixture containing 5 parts of white carbon, 8 parts of sodium lignin sulfonate, and 2 parts of sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate are added the bacterial cells or powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in any one of Preparation Examples 3 to 5, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and diatomaceous earth to 100 parts to obtain a mixture. The mixture iss milled to obtain wettable powder.

Formulation Example 12

To 30 parts of white carbon containing 30% by weight of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate ammonium salt are added the bacterial cells or powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in any one of Preparation Examples 3 to 5, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu or 1×10¹² cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and water to 100 parts to obtain a mixture. The mixture is finely milled by wet-milling to obtain a flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 13

To a mixture containing 5 parts of white carbon, 8 parts of sodium lignin sulfonate, and 2 parts of sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate were added the bacterial cells or powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in any one of Preparation Example 7, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and diatomaceous earth to 100 parts to obtain a mixture. The mixture was finely milled to obtain wettable powder.

Formulation Example 14

To 30 parts of white carbon containing 30% by weight of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate ammonium salt were added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained in Preparation Example 7, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu or 1×10¹² cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and water to 100 parts to obtain a mixture. The mixture was finely milled by wet-milling to obtain a flowable formulation.

Seed Treatment Examples are provided below.

Seed Treatment Example 1

To a mixture containing 5 parts of white carbon, 8 parts of sodium lignin sulfonate and 2 parts of sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate are added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 1, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the obtained formulation, and diatomaceous earth to 100 parts, followed by mixing and grinding to obtain wettable powder of the present bacterial strain.

Soybean seeds are treated by smearing treatment with a mixed formulation of wettable powder of the present bacterial strain (adjusted to 1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of the soybean seeds) and imidacloprid wettable powder (10% wettable powder, trade name: ADMIRE wettable powder, Bayer CropScience, adjusted to 0.75 g of imidacloprid per 1 kg of the soybean seeds).

Seed Treatment Example 2

Corn seeds are treated by smearing treatment with thiacloprid flowable formulation (40.0% flowable formulation, trade name: Sonido, Bayer CropScience) in the amount of 1.7 g of thiacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds. The corn seeds thus treated with thiacloprid are treated by wet powder coating with wettable powder of the present bacterial strain prepared as described in Seed Treatment Example 1 (adjusted to 1×10¹⁰ cfu/kg of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of said corn seeds).

Seed Treatment Example 3

To 30 parts of white carbon containing 30 parts of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate ammonium salt are added the powder of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Preparation Example 2, in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu per 1 g of the formulation, and water to 100 parts, and the mixture is finely milled by wet-milling to obtain a flowable formulation.

Wheat seeds are treated by smearing treatment with a liquid mixture containing the flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain (1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of the seeds) and clothianidin flowable formulation (47.8% flowable formulation, trade name: NipsIt Inside Insecticide, Valent U.S.A. Corporation, adjusted to 0.6 g of clothianidin per 1 kg of the seeds).

Seed Treatment Example 4

Sorghum seeds are treated by smearing treatment with flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain prepared as described in Seed Treatment Example 3 (adjusted to 1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of the seeds). The Sorghum seeds thus treated with the present bacterial strain are treated by smearing treatment with a liquid containing thiamethoxam flowable formulation (47.6% flowable formulation, trade name: Cruiser 5FS, Syngenta Crop Protection LCC) in the amount of 2.4 g of thiamethoxam per 1 kg of said sorghum seeds.

Seed Treatment Example 5

Soybean seeds are treated by smearing treatment with the flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain and flupyradifurone prepared as described in Formulation Example 7, in the amount of 2×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain and 0.45 g of flupyradifurone per 1 kg of the soybean seeds.

Seed Treatment Example 6

Soybean seeds are treated by wet coating with a mixture obtained by mixing a wettable powder of the present bacterial strain obtained in Formulation Example 11 (adjusted to 1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of the seeds) and imidacloprid wettable powder (10% wettable powder, trade name: ADMIRE wettable powder, Bayer CropScience, adjusted to 0.75 g of imidacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds).

Seed Treatment Example 7

Wheat seeds are treated by smearing treatment with a liquid mixture prepared by mixing a flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain obtained as described in Formulation Example 12 and clothianidin flowable formulation (47.8% flowable formulation, trade name: NipsIt Inside Insecticide, Valent U.S.A. Corporation), in the amount of 1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain and 0.6 g of clothianidin per 1 kg of the seeds.

Test Examples are provided below.

Test Example 1

A plastic pot is filled with a soil, and then, soybean seeds obtained in Seed Treatment Example 1 are seeded, and cultivation is carried out in a glass greenhouse for given days (“treated compartment”). Twenty Aphis gossypii are released on the 14th day after the seeding, and the number of living Aphis gossypii is counted on the 5th day after the release. Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect on the treated compartment is calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment−number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

The composition of the invention shows a significantly higher controlling effect.

Test Example 2

In a rotary seed treatment machine (trade name: HEGE11, manufactured by WINTERSTEIGER), soybean seeds (variety:“Hatayutaka”) are treated by smearing treatment with a liquid prepared by mixing flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain as obtained in Seed Treatment Example 3 (adjusted to 1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of the seeds) and clothianidin flowable formulation (47.8% flowable formulation, trade name: NipsIt Inside Insecticide, Valent U.S.A. Corporation, adjusted to 0.4 g of clothianidin per 1 kg of the seeds), or with a liquid prepared by mixing flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain as obtained in Seed Treatment Example 3 (adjusted to 1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of the seeds) and a chemical liquid prepared by dissolving flupyradifurone flowable formulation in acetone/Tween 20 (weight ratio=95:5) and diluting with water (adjusted to 0.45 g of flupyradifurone per 1 kg of the seeds), or with a liquid prepared by mixing flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain as obtained in Seed Treatment Example 3 (adjusted to 1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of the seeds) and imidacloprid flowable formulation (48.7% flowable formulation, trade name: Gaucho 600, Bayer CropScience, adjusted to 0.75 g of imidacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds), or with a liquid prepared by mixing flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain as obtained in Seed Treatment Example 3 (adjusted to 1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of the seeds) and thiacloprid flowable formulation (40.0% flowable formulation, trade name: Sonido, Bayer CropScience, adjusted to 0.5 g of thiacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds), or with a liquid prepared by mixing flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain as obtained in Seed Treatment Example 3 (adjusted to 1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of the seeds) and thiamethoxam flowable formulation (47.6% flowable formulation, trade name: Cruiser 5FS, Syngenta Crop Protection LCC, adjusted to 0.4 g of thiamethoxam per 1 kg of the seeds).

A plastic pot is filled with a soil, and then, the seeds thus treated with the test compound are seeded, and cultivation is carried out in a glass greenhouse for given days (“treated compartment”). Twenty Aphis gossypii are released on the 14th day after the seeding, and the number of living Aphis gossypii is counted on the 5th day after the release. Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect in the treated compartment is calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment−number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

The composition of the invention shows a significantly higher controlling effect.

Test Example 3

Soybean seeds (variety:“Hatayutaka”) are treated by wet powder coating treatment with the wettable powder of the present bacterial strain and clothianidin prepared in Formulation Example 1 (adjusted to 1×10¹¹ cfu of the present bacterial strain and 0.4 g of clothianidin per 1 kg of the seeds), or with the wettable powder of the present bacterial strain and flupyradifurone prepared in Formulation Example 2 (adjusted to 1×10¹¹ cfu of the present bacterial strain and 0.45 g of flupyradifurone per 1 kg of the seeds), or with the wettable powder of the present bacterial strain and imidacloprid prepared in Formulation Example 3 (adjusted to 1×10¹¹ cfu of the present bacterial strain and 0.75 g of imidacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds), or with the wettable powder of the present bacterial strain and thiacloprid prepared in Formulation Example 4 (adjusted to 1×10¹¹ cfu of the present bacterial strain and 0.5 g of thiacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds), or with the wettable powder of the present bacterial strain and thiamethoxam prepared in Formulation Example 5 (adjusted to 1×10¹¹ cfu of the present bacterial strain and 0.4 g of thiamethoxam per 1 kg of the seeds).

A plastic pot is filled with a soil, and then, the seeds thus treated with the test compound are seeded, and cultivation is carried out in a glass greenhouse for given days (“treated compartment”). Twenty Aphis gossypii are released on the 14th day after the seeding, and the number of living Aphis gossypii is counted on the 5th day after the release. Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect in the treated compartment is calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment−number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

The composition of the invention shows a significantly higher controlling effect.

Test Example 4

In a rotary seed treatment machine (trade name: HEGE11, manufactured by WINTERSTEIGER), soybean seeds (variety:“Hatayutaka”) are treated by smearing treatment with the flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain and clothianidin prepared in Formulation Example 6 (adjusted to 2×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain and 0.4 g of clothianidin per 1 kg of the seeds), or with the flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain and flupyradifurone prepared in Formulation Example 7 (adjusted to 2×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain and 0.45 g of flupyradifurone per 1 kg of the seeds) or with the flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain and imidacloprid prepared in Formulation Example 8 (adjusted to 2×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain and 0.75 g of imidacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds) or with the flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain and thiacloprid prepared in Formulation Example 9 (adjusted to 2×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain and 0.5 g of thiacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds) or with the flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain and thiamethoxam prepared in Formulation Example 10 (adjusted to 2×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain and 0.4 g of thiamethoxam per 1 kg of the seeds).

A plastic pot is filled with a soil, and then, the seeds thus treated with the test compound are seeded, and cultivation is carried out in a glass greenhouse for given days (“treated compartment”). Twenty Aphis gossypii are released on the 14th day after the seeding, and the number of living Aphis gossypii is counted on the 5th day after the release. Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect in the treated compartment is calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment−number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

The composition of the invention shows a significantly higher controlling effect.

Test Example 5

In a rotary seed treatment machine (trade name: HEGE11, manufactured by WINTERSTEIGER), corn seeds (variety: yellow dent corn) are treated by smearing treatment with a liquid containing clothianidin flowable formulation (47.8% flowable formulation, trade name: NipsIt Inside Insecticide, Valent U.S.A. Corporation, adjusted to 1.5 g of clothianidin per 1 kg of the seeds), or with a liquid prepared by dissolving flupyradifurone in acetone/Tween 20 (weight ratio=95: 5) and diluting with water (adjusted to 1.7 g of flupyradifurone per 1 kg of the seeds), or with a liquid containing imidacloprid flowable formulation (48.7% flowable formulation, trade name: Gaucho 600, Bayer CropScience, adjusted to 2.8 g of imidacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds), or with a liquid containing thiacloprid flowable formulation (40.0% flowable formulation, trade name: Sonido, Bayer CropScience, adjusted to 3.0 g of thiacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds), or with a liquid containing thiamethoxam flowable formulation (47.6% flowable formulation, trade name: Cruiser 5FS, Syngenta Crop Protection LCC, adjusted to 1.5 g of thiamethoxam per 1 kg of the seeds). In a rotary seed treatment machine (trade name: HEGE11, manufactured by WINTERSTEIGER), the corn seeds thus treated with clothianidin, or with flupyradifurone, or with imidacloprid, or with thiacloprid, or with thiamethoxam are treated by wet powder coating with the wettable powder of the present bacterial strain obtained in Seed Treatment Example 1 (adjusted to 1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of the seeds).

A plastic pot is filled with a soil, and then, the seeds thus treated with the test compound are seeded, and cultivation is carried out in a glass greenhouse for given days (“treated compartment”). Newly hatched larvae of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera are released (10 for each stalk of corn) on the 7th day after the seeding, and the number of living Diabrotica virgifera virgifera is counted on the 10th day after the release. Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect in the treated compartment is calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment−number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

The composition of the invention shows a significantly higher controlling effect.

Test Example 6

In a rotary seed treatment machine (trade name: HEGE11, manufactured by WINTERSTEIGER), corn seeds (variety: yellow dent corn) are treated by smearing treatment with flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain as obtained in Seed Treatment Example 3 (adjusted to 1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of the seeds). In a rotary seed treatment machine (trade name: HEGE11, manufactured by WINTERSTEIGER), the corn seeds thus treated with the present bacterial strain are treated by smearing treatment with a liquid containing clothianidin flowable formulation (47.8% flowable formulation, trade name: NipsIt Inside Insecticide, Valent U.S.A. Corporation, adjusted to 1.5 g of clothianidin per 1 kg of the seeds), or with a liquid prepared by dissolving flupyradifurone in acetone/Tween 20 (weight ratio=95: 5) and diluting with water (adjusted to 1.7 g of flupyradifurone per 1 kg of the seeds), or with a liquid containing imidacloprid flowable formulation (48.7% flowable formulation, trade name: Gaucho 600, Bayer CropScience, adjusted to 2.8 g of imidacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds), or with a liquid containing thiacloprid flowable formulation (40.0% flowable formulation, trade name: Sonido, Bayer CropScience, adjusted to 3.0 g of thiacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds), or with a liquid containing thiamethoxam flowable formulation (47.6% flowable formulation, trade name: Cruiser 5FS, Syngenta Crop Protection LCC, adjusted to 1.5 g of thiamethoxam per 1 kg of the seeds).

A plastic pot is filled with a soil, and then, the seeds thus treated with the test compound are seeded, and cultivation is carried out in a glass greenhouse for given days (“treated compartment”). Newly hatched larvae of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera are released (10 for each stalk of corn) on the 7th day after the seeding, and the number of living Diabrotica virgifera virgifera is counted on the 10th day after the release. Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect in the treated compartment is calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment−number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

The composition of the invention shows a significantly higher controlling effect.

Test Example 7

A chemical liquid is prepared by diluting clothianidin wettable powder (16% wettable powder, trade name: DANTOTSU, Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited) to 160 ppm of clothianidin, or by dissolving flupyradifurone in acetone/Tween 20 (weight ratio=95: 5) and diluting with water to 200 ppm of flupyradifurone, or diluting wettable imidacloprid granules (50% wettable granules, trade name: Admire wettable granules, Bayer CropScience) to 200 ppm of imidacloprid, or diluting wettable thiacloprid granules (30% wettable granules, trade name: BARIARD wettable granules, Bayer CropScience) to 300 ppm of thiacloprid, or diluting thiamethoxam water soluble powder (10.0% soluble powder, trade name: Actara Water Soluble Powder, Syngenta Japan) to 66.7 ppm of thiamethoxam, independently, and followed by combining each chemical liquid with the equal volume of a solution of the wettable powder of the present bacterial strain obtained in Seed Treatment Example 1 (adjusted to 2×10⁸ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 L of spray liquid).

The chemical liquid is sprayed in a sufficient amount to pot planting cucumber plants wherein primary leaf development has occurred. After air drying, 20 Aphis gossypii are released, and the number of living Aphis gossypii is counted on the 5th day after the release. Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect in the treated compartment is calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment−number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

The composition of the invention shows a significantly higher controlling effect.

Test Example 8

Soybean seeds are treated with a wettable powder of the present bacterial strain as obtained in Formulation Example 11 (adjusted to 1×10⁸ cfu or 1×10¹⁰ cfu of the present bacterial strain per 1 kg of the seeds) to obtain soybean seeds treated with the present bacterial strain. Also, soybean seeds are treated with wettable imidacloprid powder (10% wettable powder, trade name: Admire wettable powder, Bayer CropScience, adjusted to 0.75 g of imidacloprid per 1 kg of the seeds) to obtain soybean seed treated with imidacloprid.

A plastic pot is filled with a soil, and then, soybean seeds, which have been treated with the present bacterial strain and imidacloprid obtained in Seed Treatment Example 6, or soybean seeds treated with the present bacterial strain or with imidacloprid are seeded, and cultivation is carried out in a glass greenhouse for given days (“treated compartment”). Twenty Aphis gossypii are released on the 14th day after the seeding, and the number of living Aphis gossypii is counted on the 5th day after the release. Similar procedures are conducted using untreated soybean seeds, instead of the treated soybean seeds, as described above for the treated compartment (“untreated compartment”).

Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect in the treated compartment is calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment−number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

TABLE 1 Bacteria/Compound retained by Retaining Amount Seeds (/Kg seeds) Imidacloprid 0.75 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁸ cfu The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁸ cfu Imidacloprid 0.75 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu Imidacloprid 0.75 g

The compartment treated with the composition of the invention shows a synergistic controlling effect, compared with that of the corresponding compartment treated solely with imidacloprid or the present bacterial strain.

Test Example 9

In a rotary seed treatment machine (trade name: HEGE11, manufactured by WINTERSTEIGER), soybean seeds (variety:“Hatayutaka”) are treated by smearing treatment using a flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain as obtained in Formulation 12, and flupyradifurone flowable formulation (20.0% liquid formulation, trade name: SIVANTO200, Bayer CropScience), or thiacloprid flowable formulation (40.0% flowable formulation, trade name: Sonido, Bayer CropScience), or thiamethoxam flowable formulation (47.6% flowable formulation, trade name: Cruiser 5FS, Syngenta Crop Protection LCC, so that the soybean seeds retain the present bacterial strain and the compound in the amount shown in Table 2.

A plastic pot is filled with a soil, and then, the soybean seeds, which have been treated with the present bacterial strain, compound or the present bacterial strain+compound as shown in Table 2, are seeded, and cultivation is carried out in a glass greenhouse for given days (“treated compartment”). Twenty Aphis gossypii are released on the 14th day after the seeding, and the number of living Aphis gossypii is counted on the 5th day after the release. Similar procedures are conducted using untreated soybean seeds, instead of the treated soybean seeds, as described above for the treated compartment (“untreated compartment”).

Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect in the treated compartment is calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment−number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

TABLE 2 Bacteria/Compound retained Retaining Amount (/Kg by Seeds seeds) The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹³ cfu Flupyradifurone  0.2 g Flupyradifurone  0.4 g Thiacloprid  0.3 g Thiacloprid 0.45 g Thiamethoxam 0.15 g Thiamethoxam 0.25 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu Flupyradifurone  0.2 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹³ cfu Flupyradifurone  0.2 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu Flupyradifurone  0.4 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹³ cfu Flupyradifurone  0.4 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu Thiacloprid  0.3 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹³ cfu Thiacloprid  0.3 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu Thiacloprid 0.45 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹³ cfu Thiacloprid 0.45 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu Thiamethoxam 0.15 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹³ cfu Thiamethoxam 0.15 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu Thiamethoxam 0.25 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹³ cfu Thiamethoxam 0.25 g

The compartment treated with the composition of the invention shows a synergistic controlling effect, for each combination, compared with that of the corresponding compartment treated solely with the compound or the present bacterial strain.

Test Example 10

In a rotary seed treatment machine (trade name: HEGE11, manufactured by WINTERSTEIGER), corn seeds (variety: yellow dent corn) are treated by smearing treatment using a wettable powder of the present bacterial strain as obtained in Formulation Example 11, clothianidin flowable formulation (47.8% flowable formulation, trade name: NipsIt Inside Insecticide, Valent U.S.A. Corporation) or imidacloprid flowable formulation (48.7% flowable formulation, trade name: Gaucho 600, Bayer CropScience), so that the soybean seeds thus treated retain the present bacterial strain, clothianidin or imidacloprid in the amount shown in Table 3.

In a rotary seed treatment machine (trade name: HEGE11, manufactured by WINTERSTEIGER), the corn seeds thus treated with clothianidin or imidacloprid are treated by wet powder coating with a wettable powder of the present bacterial strain as obtained in Formulation Example 11, so that the soybean seeds thus treated retain the present bacterial strain and clothianidin or the present bacterial strain and imidacloprid in the amount shown in Table 3.

A plastic pot is filled with a soil, and then, the corn seeds, which have been treated with the present bacterial strain, compound or the present bacterial strain+compound as shown in Table 3, are seeded, and cultivation is carried out in a glass greenhouse for given days (“treated compartment”). Newly hatched larvae of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera are released (10 for each stalk of corn) on the 7th day after the seeding, and the number of living Diabrotica virgifera virgifera is counted on the 10th day after the release.

Similar procedures are conducted using untreated corn seeds, instead of the treated corn seeds, as described above for the treated compartment (“untreated compartment”).

Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect in the treated compartment is calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

TABLE 3 Bacteria/Compound retained by Retaining Amount Seeds (/Kg seeds) The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁹ cfu The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu Clothianidin 0.6 g Clothianidin 1.2 g Imidacloprid 2.0 g Imidacloprid 2.5 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁹ cfu Clothianidin 0.6 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu Clothianidin 0.6 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁹ cfu Clothianidin 1.2 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu Clothianidin 1.2 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁹ cfu Imidacloprid 2.0 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu Imidacloprid 2.0 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁹ cfu Imidacloprid 2.5 g The present bacterial strain 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu Imidacloprid 2.5 g

The compartment treated with the composition of the invention shows a synergistic controlling effect, for each combination, compared with that of the corresponding compartment treated solely with the compound or the present bacterial strain.

Test Example 11

Spray liquids of a wettable powder of the present bacterial strain as obtained in Formulation Example 11, of clothianidin wettable powder (16% wettable powder, trade name: DANTOTSU wettable powder, Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited), of flupyradifurone flowable formulation (20.0% liquid formulation, trade name: SIVANT0200, Bayer CropScience), of wettable imidacloprid granules (50% wettable granules, trade name: Admire wettable granules, Bayer CropScience), of wettable thiacloprid granules (30% wettable granules, trade name: BARIARD wettable granules, Bayer CropScience), and of thiamethoxam water soluble powder (10.0% soluble powder, trade name: Actara Water Soluble Powder, Syngenta Japan) are prepared independently by adjusting their concentrations as shown in Table 4.

The liquid (50 mL) is sprayed to pot planting cucumber plants wherein primary leaf development has occurred. After air drying, 20 Aphis gossypii are released, and the number of living Aphis gossypii is counted on the 5th day after the release (“treated compartment”). Also, similar procedures are conducted without spraying the liquid (“untreated compartment”).

Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect in the treated compartment is calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment−number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

TABLE 4 Amount of Bacteria/Compound sprayed to Bacteria/Compound in Plants Spray Liquid (/L) The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁸ cfu Clothianidin 0.8 mg Flupyradifurone 1.0 mg Imidacloprid 1.0 mg Thiacloprid 1.5 mg Thiamethoxam 0.33 mg  The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁸ cfu Clothianidin 0.8 mg The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁸ cfu Flupyradifurone 1.0 mg The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁸ cfu Imidacloprid 1.0 mg The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁸ cfu Thiacloprid 1.5 mg The present bacterial strain 1 × 10⁸ cfu Thiamethoxam 0.33 mg 

The compartment treated with the composition of the invention shows a synergistic controlling effect, for each combination, compared with that of the corresponding compartment treated solely with the compound or the present bacterial strain.

Test Example 12

In a rotary seed treatment machine (trade name: HEGE11, manufactured by WINTERSTEIGER), soybean seeds (variety:“Hatayutaka”) were treated by smearing treatment using flowable formulation of the present bacterial strain obtained in Formulation Example 14, flupyradifurone liquid formulation (20.0% liquid formulation, trade name: SIVANTO200, Bayer CropScience), thiacloprid flowable formulation (40.0% flowable formulation, trade name: Sonido, Bayer CropScience), thiamethoxam flowable formulation (47.6% flowable formulation, trade name: Cruiser 5FS, Syngenta Crop Protection LCC), so that the soybean seeds retain the present bacterial strain and the compound in the amount shown in Table 5.

A plastic pot was filled with a soil, and then, the soybean seeds, which have been treated with present bacterial strain, compound or the present bacterial strain+compound as shown in Table 5, were seeded, and cultivation was carried out in a glass greenhouse for given days (“treated compartment”). Twenty Aphis gossypii were released on the 14th day after the seeding, and the number of living Aphis gossypii was counted on the 5th day after the release. Similar procedures were conducted using untreated soybean seeds, instead of the treated soybean seeds, as described above for the treated compartment (“untreated compartment”).

Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect in the treated compartment was calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment−number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

TABLE 5 Retaining Bacteria/Compound Amount Controlling Estimated retained by Seeds (/Kg seeds) Effect Value* The present bacterial 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu 11.7 — strain The present bacterial 1 × 10¹³ cfu 18.0 — strain Flupyradifurone  0.2 g 65.9 — Flupyradifurone  0.4 g 77.6 — Thiacloprid  0.3 g 56.9 — Thiacloprid 0.45 g 69.0 — Thiamethoxam 0.15 g 70.6 — Thiamethoxam 0.25 g 78.4 — The present bacterial 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu 84.3 69.9 strain  0.2 g Flupyradifurone The present bacterial 1 × 10¹³ cfu 89.4 72.0 strain  0.2 g Flupyradifurone The present bacterial 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu 97.2 80.2 strain  0.4 g Flupyradifurone The present bacterial 1 × 10¹³ cfu 99.2 81.6 strain  0.4 g Flupyradifurone The present bacterial 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu 81.2 62.0 strain  0.3 g Thiacloprid The present bacterial 1 × 10¹³ cfu 89.0 64.7 strain  0.3 g Thiacloprid The present bacterial 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu 87.0 72.6 strain 0.45 g Thiacloprid The present bacterial 1 × 10¹³ cfu 93.3 74.6 strain 0.45 g Thiacloprid The present bacterial 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu 91.0 74.0 strain 0.15 g Thiamethoxam The present bacterial 1 × 10¹³ cfu 94.1 75.9 strain 0.15 g Thiamethoxam The present bacterial 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu 100 80.9 strain 0.25 g Thiamethoxam The present bacterial 1 × 10¹³ cfu 100 82.3 strain 0.25 g Thiamethoxam *Effect estimated from the calculation by the Colby's equation

If the effect by the combination of two active ingredients is greater than that of the estimated value E, which is calculated by the Colby's equation as follows, the effect is regarded as synergistic.

E=X+Y−X·Y/100

wherein,

-   E=Controlling effect when using the mixture of the active     ingredients A and B at the concentrations m and n (amount of the     active ingredient), respectively. -   X=Controlling effect when using the active ingredient A at the     concentration m (amount of the active ingredient). -   Y=Controlling effect when using the active ingredient B at the     concentration n (amount of the active ingredient).

The compartment treated with the composition of the invention showed a synergistic controlling effect, for each combination, compared with that of the corresponding compartment treated solely with the compound or the present bacterial strain.

Test Example 13

In a rotary seed treatment machine (trade name: HEGE11, manufactured by WINTERSTEIGER), corn seeds (variety: yellow dent corn) were treated by smearing treatment using the wettable powder of the present bacterial strain obtained in Formulation Example 13 or clothianidin flowable formulation (47.8% flowable formulation, trade name: NipsIt Inside Insecticide, Valent U.S.A. Corporation), or imidacloprid flowable formulation (48.7% flowable formulation, trade name: Gaucho 600, Bayer CropScience), so that the corn seeds thus treated retain the present bacterial strain, clothianidin or imidacloprid in the amount shown in Table 6.

In a rotary seed treatment machine (trade name: HEGE11, manufactured by WINTERSTEIGER), the corn seeds thus treated with clothianidin or imidacloprid were treated by wet powder coating with a wettable powder of the present bacterial strain as obtained in Formulation Example 13, so that the soybean seeds thus treated retain the present bacterial strain and clothianidin or the present bacterial strain and imidacloprid in the amount shown in Table 6.

A plastic pot was filled with a soil, and then, the corn seeds, which have been treated with the present bacterial strain, compound or the present bacterial strain+compound as shown in Table 6, were seeded, and cultivation was carried out in a glass greenhouse for given days (“treated compartment”). Newly hatched larvae of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera are released (10 for each stalk of corn) on the 7th day after the seeding, and the number of living Diabrotica virgifera virgifera was counted on the 10th day after the release. Similar procedures were conducted using untreated corn seeds, instead of the treated corn seeds, as described above for the treated compartment (“untreated compartment”).

Based on the numbers of survivors in the treated compartment and the untreated compartment, the effect in the treated compartment was calculated by the following equation.

Controlling effect=100×[(number of survivors in untreated compartment number of survivors in treated compartment)/number of survivors in untreated compartment]

TABLE 6 Retaining Bacteria/Compound Amount Controlling Estimated retained by Seeds (/Kg seeds) Effect Value* The present bacterial 1 × 10⁹ cfu 11.4 — strain The present bacterial 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu 21.4 — strain Clothianidin 0.6 g 41.4 — Clothianidin 1.2 g 64.3 — Imidacloprid 2.0 g 51.4 — Imidacloprid 2.5 g 62.8 — The present bacterial 1 × 10⁹ cfu 58.6 48.1 strain 0.6 g Clothianidin The present bacterial 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu 70.0 53.9 strain 0.6 g Clothianidin The present bacterial 1 × 10⁹ cfu 84.3 68.4 strain 1.2 g Clothianidin The present bacterial 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu 94.3 71.9 strain 1.2 g Clothianidin The present bacterial 1 × 10⁹ cfu 72.8 56.9 strain 2.0 g Imidacloprid The present bacterial 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu 81.4 61.8 strain 2.0 g Imidacloprid The present bacterial 1 × 10⁹ cfu 90.0 67.0 strain 2.5 g Imidacloprid The present bacterial 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu 92.9 70.8 strain 2.5 g Imidacloprid *Control value estimated from the calculation by the Colby's equation

The compartment treated with the composition of the invention showed a synergistic controlling effect, for each combination, compared with that of the corresponding compartment treated solely with the compound or the present bacterial strain. 

1. A composition for controlling pests comprising Bacillus strain APM-1 (New strain of Bacillus, APM-1) deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 and one or more nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound.
 2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound is selected from the group consisting of clothianidin, flupyradifurone, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam.
 3. The composition according to claim 1 comprising the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound in the amount of 10⁻⁷ to 1.5×10⁷ g per 10¹⁰ cfu of Bacillus strain APM-1.
 4. A plant seed or a vegetative propagation organ comprising Bacillus strain APM-1 (New strain of Bacillus, APM-1) deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 and one or more nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound.
 5. The plant seed or a vegetative propagation organ according to claim 4 wherein the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound is selected from the group consisting of clothianidin, flupyradifurone, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam.
 6. The plant seed or vegetative propagation organ according to claim 4 comprising 10⁴ to 10¹⁴ cfu of Bacillus strain APM-1 and 0.001 to 15 g of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound, per 1kg of the seed or vegetative propagation organ.
 7. A method for controlling pests, comprising a step of applying Bacillus strain APM-1 (New strain of Bacillus, APM-1) deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 and one or more nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound to a plant or a plant cultivation site.
 8. The method for controlling pests according to claim 7 wherein the plant is a genetically modified plant.
 9. A method for controlling pests, comprising a step of applying Bacillus strain APM-1 (New strain of Bacillus, APM-1) deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 and one or more nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist compound to pests or a place where pests are liable to inhabit. 